Lawsuit

In December 2012 the citizens group Center for Coalfield Justice sued Emerald Mine operator Emerald Coal Resources LP for polluting key waterways — including at least one high-quality fishing stream — that feed the Monongahela River. The lawsuit contends Emerald Coal had violated pollution levels for iron, manganese, aluminum, and other pollutants more than 120 times in the past 12 months and more than 400 times in the past five years. The group based the claims on violations the company has been self-reporting to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Emerald's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit as part of the federal Clean Water Act.[2]